Public Safety

Mid-America Christian University Department of Public Safety operates 24 hours a day, which provides the MACU community with around the clock service and protection. Police and/or Public Safety Officers patrol the university on a regular basis.

In an effort to continue to provide a safe atmosphere for all students, faculty, and staff, MACU has launched several initiatives recently:

MACU has installed emergency alert speakers throughout the campus for rapid notification of emergencies.

MACU has installed security cameras throughout the campus allowing for remote monitoring 24 hours a day by safety officials.

MACU will deploy a mass notification system in Fall 2009 using text messaging technologies to notify all students of emergencies and/or school closings.

MACU provides all dorm living rooms with a public telephone connection with the ability to place 911 emergency calls.

MACU Department of Public Safety works closely with the Office for Student Services to provide local resources for students dealing with mental health issues.

For more information on saftey issues expand a section below.

Severe Thunderstorms

The National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm “watch” whenever conditions are favorable for the formation of such storms; it issues a “warning” when such storms have formed and may pose an imminent threat. The MACU Police Department shall monitor both “watch” and “warning” alerts.

If a thunderstorm is believed to pose a danger to MACU personnel/facilities, the MACU Police Department shall activate the Emergency Alert System, if applicable. Additionally, the MACU Police Department officers in the field shall alert anyone who is outside.

If instructed to do so by the MACU Police Department, or if weather conditions dictate, individuals who are inside should be prepared to move quickly to safe areas within their buildings—to areas such as hallways and enclosed classrooms, away from windows. Individuals who are outside should immediately seek shelter in the safest nearby building or under structures that will provide safety, avoiding trees or structures that may collapse or attract lightning.

Any injuries or damage resulting from the storm should be reported to the MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone immediately.

Tornadoes

The protocol for tornado “watches” and “warnings” shall be generally the same as that for severe thunderstorms. However, personnel need to be aware that warning periods may be shorter and, obviously, that damage may be more severe. MACU University will be alerted to any possible Tornado warning by the public sirens of Oklahoma City, internal University email, and the MACU Police Department Audible Alert System.

If possible, move to an interior corridor, room or office without windows and crouch low to the ground with your hands covering the back of your head and neck.

Do not use elevators.

Assist persons with disabilities to the safest area on the same floor.

Wait out the storm and expect the power to go off. Be alert to downed power lines and unstable structure.

Render aid to the injured and notify the MACU Police Department immediately of injuries and damage.

Move to the basement of the Student Center, if time permits; otherwise, take precautions where you are at.

If a tornado warning has been issued and you are outside:

Look for a nearby safe structure in which to seek shelter.

If you are in your car, get out of it; never try to outrun a tornado.

If there is no shelter, lie down flat in a low area such as a ditch away from trees, power lines and poles, and cover the back of your head and neck with your hands.

Wait out the storm and expect the power to go off. Be alert to downed power lines and unstable structures.

Render aid to the injured and notify the MACU Police Department immediately of injuries and damage.

Winter Storms

The MACU Police Department will monitor weather and road conditions and notify the Inclement Weather Committee of their status.

The Inclement Weather Committee shall have the authority to cancel classes or adjust the times at which they end or resume. The President, at his discretion, may override the Committee’s decision.

If a decision is made to close the University early, open late, or cancel classes, the MACU Police Department shall inform the local media through the online notification process. The University emergency alert system and the web site will provide information regarding closure or delays. Personnel can call the University’s main number (405) 691-3800 for closure details. Personnel should not call The MACU Police Department to obtain this information.

Floods

Flooding on or near campus can result from hurricanes, major or multiple rainstorms, water main breaks, plumbing problems, or roof leaks. In the case of imminent, weather-related flooding, the MACU Police Department shall monitor both “watch” and “warning” alerts.

If flooding, either on or off campus, is believed to pose a danger to MACU personnel/facilities, or interrupt academic process, the MACU Police Department shall activate the Emergency Alert System.

If instructed to do so by the MACU Police Department, individuals who are inside should quickly move to safe areas within their buildings, or evacuate buildings as instructed by the MACU Police Department. If it is safe to do so, secure vital equipment, records, chemicals, laboratory experiments, and electrical equipment prior to evacuation. Assist persons with disabilities.

Once evacuated, avoid areas susceptible to flooding and seek shelter as necessary.

Remain as a group and wait further instructions. the MACU Police Department will inform all concerned when the building is safe for re-entry.

If assisting in cleanup, report any oil, chemical or hazardous materials suspected of mixing with flood waters to The MACU Police Department immediately. Do not dump flood water down storm drains.

If instructed to evacuate campus due to outside flooding, depart immediately to avoid being marooned. Evacuation is much simpler and safer before flood waters become too deep.

If you are in a car and it stalls, abandon it immediately and proceed to higher ground.

Vehicular

If you are involved in or witness any vehicular accident on campus, the following steps should be taken:

Check the scene to make sure it is safe for you to respond.

Render any immediate first aid that you are qualified to provide. Do not attempt to move injured persons unless a life-threatening condition such as a fire exists.

Notify the MACU Police Department of the accident at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone, providing details about the location, number of vehicles involved, vehicle descriptions, and any injuries that resulted. Remain on the telephone with the MACU Police Department unless instructed otherwise.

Remain at the scene of the accident until a MACU Police Officer arrives, and advise any parties to the accident that they also need to remain. If a party to the accident attempts to leave prior to the officer’s arrival, do not attempt to stop the person. However, do take note of the appearance of the vehicle and person, and attempt to record the license plate number.

Upon arrival, the responding MACU police officer shall be responsible for subsequent steps, including coordination with any responding emergency personnel, identification of witnesses, investigation of the accident, and submission of any required motor vehicle collision reports.

Workplace

If you are involved in or witness a workplace accident on campus, the following steps should be taken:

Check the scene to make sure it is safe for you to respond.

Render any immediate first aid that you are qualified to provide. Do not attempt to move injured persons unless a life-threatening condition such as a fire exists.

Notify the MACU Police Department of the accident at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone, providing details about the location, nature of the accident, and any injuries that resulted. Remain on the telephone with the MACU Police Department unless instructed otherwise.

If the cause of the accident still poses a danger to others, notify the officer and provide whatever assistance you are requested to and capable of rendering to reduce or eliminate the danger.

If the accident involves injury to a MACU employee notify the University’s Worker’s Compensation coordinator in the Human Resource Department, as soon as feasible. If the MACU Police Department has been notified of the accident and responded, that department shall contact the University’s Workers’ Compensation coordinator. If the MACU Police Department has not been notified of the accident, the employee (or the employee’s supervisor if the employee is unable to provide notification) shall contact the University’s Workers’ Compensation coordinator, who will likely need to obtain additional information directly from the injured in order to coordinate the submission of required paperwork.

If the accident involves injury to a MACU student or visitor, the University’s Insurance and Risk Manager, in the Human Resources Office must also be notified. The MACU Police Department shall provide this notification in all instances when it has been notified of an accident and responded.

Upon notification, the MACU Police Department will notify the President’s Office of a serious accident or injury to a MACU student or visitor.

Upon notification, the MACU Police Department shall document accidents in an incident report. When possible, the cause of the injury will be identified.

When appropriate, the University shall then take steps to eliminate any causes of the injury that are within its purview.

Listen carefully to the caller and background noises. Show interest and try to keep the caller talking so that you can gather as much information as possible.

Note the phone number of the caller if your phone has a display, or identify if the call is being made from on campus or off campus.

Upon completion of the call, immediately notify the MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone, and an officer will respond to your location. Do not discuss the call with others and do not spread panic.

While awaiting the officer’s arrival, write down as much information as possible, including your assessment of the caller’s age, sex, race, accent, and any background noise. Also write down any information the caller may have provided about the bomb’s location, type, time of detonation, and possible motive for planting the bomb. Note when the call was received and the extension number on which it was received.

Officers may need to question faculty, staff and students about suspicious activity or persons, and employees should provide any additional relevant information that may help to assess the threat.

If you are instructed to evacuate, do so at once, assisting any disabled persons. If possible, avoid using elevators. Staff, Faculty and students in the Gualke Center will evacuate to the field southwest of the parking lot. Staff, Faculty and students in the dorm and student center area will evacuate to the sports fields to the south of the buildings. Staff, Faculty and students in the main building will evacuate east of the building to the open field.

Once outside, move to an area where you will be at least 500 feet from targeted buildings/areas, and where your presence will not interfere with responding emergency personnel. When possible, avoid gathering in parking lots or near utility equipment such as chillers and electrical power lines.

If media representatives are present, refer any questions they have to the MACU Vice President for Strategic Communications. Emergency response personnel will determine when a building/area is safe to resume normal operations; faculty, staff and students will then be allowed to return.

Be aware that letters and packages may also pose threats, not only from bombs, but also from biological agents such as ricin. If you receive a letter or a package whose external appearance is somehow suspect—for example, it has a powdery residue or oily stains or discolorations on it, or the postmark city is different from the return address city, follow these steps:

DO NOT OPEN IT.

If possible, isolate the mailing and cover it with an item such as a trash can to reduce possible contamination.

Evacuate the immediate area and call the MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone, providing information about the location of the item.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Be prepared to provide the MACU Police Department with the names of others who may have touched the letter or package.

Follow any subsequent directives of the MACU Police Department. For example, it may be necessary to have clothing removed and then packaged by professional responders.

If you become aware only after opening it that the letter or package may pose a threat, follow steps 2-6 above.

Most campus demonstrations, whether they are marches, meetings, pickets or rallies, are peaceful and non-obstructive. However, in the event that they are not, or in the event that disruptive demonstrations in the community spill over to the campus, the procedures outlined below shall be followed. The statutory authority for these procedures is what stipulates that it is unlawful for any person to willfully or unnecessarily interfere with or disturb in any way or in any place the students of any school or college in the state. Additionally, this statute indicates that it is unlawful for any person to enter, except on business, any such school or college premises without the permission of the principal or president.

Any University official or personnel who learn of a demonstration or planned demonstration must report it to the MACU Police Department immediately.

The MACU Police Department must report any such demonstrations to the President, who has the right to deny the demonstration to take place on a MACU campus.

Demonstrators who cause disruption or disturb University activities will be informed by the MACU Police Department of the pertinent statute and given official trespass or disturbing school notices. The MACU Police Department shall also advise the demonstrators to disperse by a specified time.

If the demonstrators do not disperse by the specified time, the MACU Police Department official in charge will consult with the President or the designated University official to determine if intervention is necessary. The safety of all University personnel is most important.

The MACU Police Department may request additional personnel from county or state agencies to maintain peace and crowd control.

If necessary, demonstrators will be arrested, processed, and detained.

The MACU Police Department will coordinate activities with county and state authorities in the event that an off campus disturbance or demonstration interferes with the safety of university personnel and students en route to and from University campuses.

The University’s Vice President for Strategic Communications will be responsible for communicating relevant information about any demonstration to the media and University community.

There are two sensory indicators of earthquakes: sound and motion. Both vary widely. Depending on your distance from the center of the quake, you may not notice any sound. Or you may notice sounds that resemble anything from a rifle shot to rumbling thunder. Motion may obviously range from a very minor shake to a catastrophic shifting of the earth. The most earthquakes in Oklahoma are very minor and require no emergency procedures; however, more severe earthquakes have occurred in the area and remain potential threats. Should you experience any significant shaking of a building or the earth, the following procedures should be followed.

If you are inside, immediately take cover under a table or desk, or stand in a doorway or other structure that will provide cover from falling objects. In areas where cover is not available, kneel at the base of an interior wall and face the wall with your head down and covered by your arms. Turn your body away from windows and mirrors. Be alert for falling objects and stay away from overhead fixtures, filing cabinets, bookcases and electrical equipment.

If you are outside, try to move to an open area away from buildings, trees, power lines and poles. If you are unable to move to an open area, watch for falling objects, and be aware that the ground may sink and craters may form.

If you are in an automobile, stop your vehicle in the nearest open area. Stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops. Since bridges and overpasses may have been weakened, do not park under them or drive on them.

After an earthquake, be aware of the possibility of aftershocks. Survey your immediate surroundings to see if there are individuals requiring assistance—for example, the disabled, those requiring first aid, or those trapped under fallen debris. If it is possible and you judge it safe to provide assistance, do so. But do not move injured persons unless they face life-threatening situations such as fires or the imminent collapse of a building. If it is not possible to render assistance or you judge it unsafe to do so, attempt to contact the MACU Police Department and provide information about the location of individual needing assistance. If you are not able to contact the MACU Police Department because of power outages, make a mental note of the people needing assistance and their locations, and then attempt to exit the building.

Open doors carefully. Watch for falling objects and downed electrical lines. Do not use elevators. Do not use matches or lighters as gas lines may have ruptured. Once outside, move to an area away from buildings, signs, trees and utility poles that may pose a threat if they collapse or fall. Immediately contact any The MACU Police officer or other emergency personnel and convey to them information about those who may remain in the building.

Since buildings may have experienced significant structural damage and aftershocks are likely, do not re-enter any buildings unless The MACU Police Department or emergency personnel indicate that you may.

In cooperation with any external emergency personnel available, the Director of The MACU Police Department shall direct all post-quake operations, including search and rescue, assistance to the injured, shut down of campus utilities, damage assessments, and communications with the media and University personnel.

Each emergency first aid situation is unique; therefore, the steps you should take in response to these situations may vary, as may the order of the steps. What does not vary, however, is that all injuries and illnesses requiring medical attention must be reported to the MACU Police Department. While it is impossible to address every conceivable injury or illness, the following procedures generally apply.

Check the scene to make sure it is safe for you to respond.

Call or instruct someone else to call The MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone, or in case of immediate risk to life or health, call 911 and convey the following information:

The nature of the illness or injury; the location of the ill or injured person;

A description of the person, including approximate age, race, and sex;

A description of the person’s medical symptoms or complaints;

A description of the person’s activities prior to the onset of the symptoms or complaints.

Remain or ask someone to remain on the line with the MACU Police Department officer in case follow-up information is necessary.

Render any immediate first aid you are qualified to provide. Do not move injured persons unless a life-threatening condition such as a fire exists.

Remain or instruct someone to remain at the scene as long as necessary to assist the MACU Police Department and/or other responding personnel.

To help assure your safety, all University buildings have clearly marked and illuminated emergency exit signs which indicate evacuation routes. In some buildings, these signs remain illuminated at all times; in other buildings, they become illuminated when a fire alarm is activated or the power is disrupted. The University regularly tests the lighting in these signs to assure that it is adequate day and night. Additionally, buildings have emergency lighting systems which provide illumination for a short period of time sufficient to permit evacuation. In order to acquaint everyone with the sound of the fire alarm and the exit routes to be followed, the MACU Police Department conducts unannounced fire drills on a regular basis. It is each employee’s responsibility to make sure he/she knows the proper evacuation routes. Additionally, faculty members and supervisors assume the role of monitors/coordinators for their students and subordinates during such drills or actual emergencies. Therefore, faculty members/supervisors should:

Inform students/subordinates of the location of and routes to area exits prior to an emergency.

Inform students/subordinates of the location of the nearest fire extinguisher prior to an emergency. If a fire is small, contained, and you are trained with the use of a fire extinguisher, and you are not compromising your safety, you may try to extinguish it.

Instruct students/subordinates to evacuate calmly and quietly when notified by fire alarm activations or by the MACU Police Department. Ensure that priority is given to safety. Take only your essential belongings with you. Assist with evacuating persons with disabilities. (See “Additional Note” at end of section.)

Ensure that classroom/office doors are closed and overhead lights turned off after everyone has evacuated.

Instruct students/subordinates to walk, not run, during evacuation.

Advise students/subordinates to use the stairs, not elevators, during evacuation.

Assemble as a group, based upon the aforementioned evacuation areas at least 500 feet away from the building. Do not assemble near fire lanes, hydrants, doors, and streets, where you might impede the access of emergency responders. Instructors/supervisors shall report anyone unaccounted for to The MACU Police Department immediately.

Remain as a group and wait for further instructions. The MACU Police Department will inform all concerned when the building is safe for re-entry.

If you become trapped in an office or building, try to gain access to a window. If possible, place something at the bottom of the door to reduce smoke from entering the room. Since smoke rises, remain as low to the floor as possible. And, obviously, communicate your location to the MACU Police Department any way you can.

Additional Note: Student Life will obtain information from disabled students regarding their preference for method of evacuation—e.g., with or without wheelchairs during an evacuation and will include that information on the faculty notification form. The instructor will identify a primary and alternate student/employee to assist the disabled person during an emergency. Instructors should designate these primary and alternate students during the first class period.

Supervisors should designate these employees as staff changes. Additionally, instructors should assign students with disabilities to seats nearest to the door to expedite their evacuation, if this does not interfere with their academic programs.

Notify the MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone immediately if a gas leak is suspected. Provide details about the location and circumstances. The MACU Police Department will respond and will also notify Facilities Management.

Evacuate the area as quickly as possible, moving to an outside location at least 500 feet from the location of the suspected leak.

As you exit, do not turn on/off any light or electrical switches, do not activate the fire alarm, and do not use the elevator. Also, leave the door to the room with the suspected leak open so that the gas will more readily disperse.

The MACU Police Department officer on the scene will be responsible for making sure that no one enters the building until permitted. The officer is authorized to request faculty/staff assistance to accomplish this.

Facilities Management will investigate the possible leak and either fixes it, or call the appropriate electric utility or contractor to repair the leak.

Facilities Management will communicate to the MACU Police Department personnel when corrective action has been completed and when reentry is safe. The MACU Police Department will then provide access accordingly.

The MACU Vice President for Strategic Communications will communicate with University personnel and the media as appropriate.

Pandemic influenza is a global disease outbreak. Three pandemics have occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968 with the most deadly occurring in 1918 killing approximately 50 million people worldwide. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide. In the event of pandemic influenza, the University will play a key role in protecting students’ and employees’ health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the academic mission and the business infrastructure. The University’s strategies that delay or reduce the impact of a pandemic (also called non-pharmaceutical interventions) may help reduce the spread of disease until a vaccine is available.

World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Influenza Phases

The State has adopted the World Health Organization’s structure for monitoring Pandemic Influenza. The structure is divided into three distinct periods (Inter-pandemic, Pandemic Alert, and Pandemic) and 6 phases.

Inter-Pandemic Period

Phase 1: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low.

Phase 2: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease.

Pandemic Alert Period

Phase 3: Human infection(s) with a new subtype but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.

Phase 4: Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans.

Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).

Pandemic Period

Phase 6: Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.

Pandemic Severity Index

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) (Table 1) that uses hurricane categories as a model to help the public gauge the severity of a pandemic. The PSI is divided into five categories with 1 being the least severe and 5 being the most severe and is based on the total U.S. population. The CDC has also developed a mitigation strategy table (Table 2) for implementation of interventions to reduce transmission of illness in the community.

Planning and Preparation

All pandemic influenza action plans will be updated and reviewed by department heads and directors by April 15 and July 1 of each year, and placed on the appropriate MACU web page. All pandemic influenza supplies and equipment shall be in place and, if appropriate, tested by May 15. Pandemic action plans shall address the following:

Initial preparations

Business continuity plan

Academic continuity plan

Student Services continuity plan.

Infection control plan.

Communications plan.

Preparation for emergency services

Recovery plan

Community assistance impact

Personal assignments

Pandemic Influenza Monitoring and Final Preparations

At pandemic influenza phase 3, the MACU Police Department will monitor the U.S. Government Pandemic Influenza Information website (pandemicflu.gov) and the Office of Public Health Preparedness of the Oklahoma Department of Health and notify the President of changes in alert/threat status as dictated by regional pandemic influenza forecasts.

The President may convene the Emergency Operations Group to outline preparations and develop a schedule for decisions on modifying University functions. The MACU Vice President for Strategic Communication will communicate any such decisions to University personnel and the media.

At the pandemic influenza phase 5, all preparations should be finalized and completed.

Business, academic, and student services continuity plans should be implemented and personnel assignments made accordingly.

During the Pandemic

Response actions of essential personnel concerning personnel assignments, course delivery, student support infrastructure, business activities, communications, and all other University functions will be made using Tables 1 and 2 as a guide in implementing departmental business continuity plans.

The MACU Police Department or other University designee is to monitor the implementation and enforcement of the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act.

Recovery Period

Once Oklahoma Department of Health has declared pandemic influenza is no longer a threat in the local area, the recovery period begins, and the following actions will be taken.

The President will convene the Emergency Operations Group and implement the recovery action plans. The group will address the impact of the pandemic on the University, develop strategies to meet the needs of the University recovery, and insure that all resources are being focused on restoring normal operations as soon as possible. Periodic briefings will be held as necessary and communicated to University personnel and the media as appropriate. Decisions will be made regarding outside assistance needed to complete the recovery process.

In the event that College facilities are used for community support functions such as health care surge capacity, staging areas for supplies, equipment and personnel, special security and service arrangements outlined in the initial plan will be provided. All personnel will be assigned an identification badge and will be required to check in and out for accountability.

Special issues involved in recovery operations must be addressed. Personal safety is of foremost concern.

Tables

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) (Table 1) that uses hurricane categories as a model to help the public gauge the severity of a pandemic. The PSI is divided into five categories with 1 being the least severe and 5 being the most severe and is based on the total U.S. population.

Table 1. Pandemic Severity Index

The CDC has also developed a mitigation strategy (Table 2) for implementation of interventions to reduce transmission of illness in the community.

Table 2: Community Mitigation Strategy

Procedures for responding to power and water outages are divided into two sections: Individual Response and Institutional Response:

Individual Response

Call the MACU Police Department to report any room, building, or campus power or water outage, at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone.

Note: College phones are equipped with an emergency power source to provide backup communications for up to 2 hours. If the College telephones fail, use cell phones or pay phones to report outage to the MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100.

While we do want you to call the MACU Police Department to report an outage, please do not call The MACU Police Department to ask how the power or water outage occurred or when it will be restored. Keep telephone lines to the MACU Police Department clear for emergency calls and other needs related to outages.

For power outages:

If you are on the first floor and have sufficient daylight to continue working safely, you should do so. If you do not have sufficient daylight to continue working safely, or if you are instructed to do so by the MACU Police Department, move to an exit with natural light or to an outside location, weather permitting.

If you are on the second floor when the outage occurs, take the stairs, not the elevator, and move to the first floor near an exit with natural light or to an outside location, weather permitting.

If you are in a shop or lab, turn off any gas burners or equipment which, if unattended when power is suddenly restored, might pose a danger.

As you leave your work site, take your essential personal possessions and lock your office or room door.

Assist anyone requiring help, and do not use elevators. If you are in an elevator during a power outage, call the MACU Police Department by using the telephone inside the elevator. Remain calm, and the MACU Police Department or Facilities Management will respond to your location and provide assistance. If you are aware of others trapped in an elevator, also contact The MACU Police Department immediately

Emergency lighting should provide about 15 minutes of light for you to move safely to another location. Emergency lighting is provided by battery backup (not generators) and will generally provide only enough illumination to exit the immediate area. If the lighting is not sufficient, phone the MACU Police Department and wait for an escort.

If you move to an outside location, assemble with your co-workers in one area so that supervisors can account for everyone. Instructors should follow the same procedure with their classes: assemble all students from a given class in one area in order to account for everyone. If any employee or student is not accounted for, notify the MACU Police Department.

Remain in the evacuation area until the MACU Police Department, or a designee, indicates that you may return to your work site.

Institutional Response

Once the MACU Police Department is alerted to a power or water outage, the department will in turn notify Facilities Management and the Chief Administration Officer.

The MACU Police Department and Facilities Management personnel shall survey the campus to determine the extent of the outage and, if possible, to identify the source of the failure. Note that outages may encompass an entire campus and surrounding community, or locally affect only portions of a building.

Facilities Management shall notify the Chief Administration Officer and the MACU Police Department of the results of its survey of the outage and, if possible, provide an estimate of the time required to restore services.

Facilities Management will repair any outages that can be identified, and that it has the equipment, expertise and authority to repair in a timely manner.

If the source of the outage cannot be identified, or if repairing the outage is beyond the scope or authority of the University to repair in a timely way, Facilities Management shall notify the utility company or the appropriate contractor.

Facilities Management shall serve as the University’s liaison to the utility company or the appropriate contractor. As the utility company or the appropriate contractor makes repairs, Facilities Management shall keep both the Chief Administration Officer and the MACU Police Department appraised of repairs as they progress, including any revised estimates of the duration of the outage.

Except in emergencies or situations requiring evacuation, only the President or his/her designee shall have the authority to cancel classes or adjust the times at which they end or resume. The MACU Vice President for Strategic Communications will communicate relevant decisions to the University and the media.

A psychological crisis might manifest itself on campus in a number of ways, including, among other possibilities, threats against others, threats against oneself, emotional breakdowns, and alcohol or drug abuse. If you witness a psychological crisis, the most important thing to remember is that the University has on-staff expertise, as well as access to additional community resources, to help resolve a crisis situation. Therefore, your primary responsibility is not to attempt to serve as a crisis counselor; rather, it is simply to notify the proper authorities so that appropriate professionals can address the situation as quickly as possible. The essential steps for dealing with a psychological crisis on campus shall include the following:

Notify the MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 or 711 from a University phone the onset of the problem, providing details about location, individuals involved, and a description of the behavior being manifested. If possible, try to isolate the person in crisis away from others.

The MACU Police Department shall respond to the scene immediately. Depending upon the nature of the behavior manifested, the MACU Police Department may also request assistance from an outside agency.

The responding the MACU Police Department officer shall be responsible for directing subsequent actions taken to defuse or resolve the situation.

Resolving the situation may at times require that the individual in crisis be taken into protective custody, as per state statute.

All media contact pertaining to a psychological crisis on campus shall be the responsibility of the Vice President for Strategic Communication, in consultation with the Director of the MACU Police Department.

Workplace violence is a term that has generally been used to describe threatening behavior, acts of violence, or property damage perpetrated by employees. However, the term is not limited to threats or acts committed by employees. It may properly describe threats or acts committed by a host of others when those threats or acts occur on campus or off-campus at University-sponsored events. Those others include, but are not necessarily limited to, students; vendors; visitors; spouses/friends of students, staff, and faculty; and criminals. Also included in this definition are the actual or implied verbal and non-verbal threats, harassment, intimidation, and disruptive behavior that may lead to physical harm or property damage.

Active Shooter and Other Violent Incidents

Shootings and other violent acts are unpredictable, and your immediate response depends on the situation you face. The following guidelines are based on the best practices established by law enforcement experts.

If it is possible to do so safely, exit the building immediately when you become aware of an incident, moving away from the immediate path of danger, and take the following steps:

Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately.

Evacuate to a safe area away from danger and take protective cover. Stay there until assistance arrives.

Call The MACU Police Department at (405) 692-3100 and provide the officer with the following information:

If you are unable to call the MACU Police Department and you have a silent alarm in your area, activate the alarm.

Wait for the MACU Police Department to assist you out of the building. Campus Police Officers are trained and equipped to respond to an emergency incident of this nature. During the initial phase of the incident, the MACU Police Department will respond and evaluate the situation to determine the best course of action for safety of the MACU Community. The Chief of Police is responsible for all tactical and operational decisions concerning an Active Shooter or aggressor on campus.

When able, based on the circumstances, the MACU Vice President for Strategic Communication will advise the media of incident.

Policy

When instructed by the MACU Police Department to initiate a "Lockdown" of the campus or specific building(s), the following procedure is to be implemented.

Purpose

In the event of a police emergency, e.g. "Active Shooter", it may become necessary to "Lockdown" a building or buildings on campus to protect occupants and minimize the overall exposure to danger.

Definition

A "Lockdown" is the temporary sheltering technique, e.g. 30 minutes to several hours, utilized to limit civilian exposure to an "Active Shooter" or similar dangerous incident. When alerted, occupants of any building within the subject area will lock or secure, to the best of their ability, all doors and windows not allowing entry to anyone until the “all clear” has been sounded by the MACU Police Department. This procedure converts any building into a large "Safe Room."

Authority and Responsibility

MACU PD is responsible for:

Declaring the "Lockdown"

Activating the Public Address (PA) systems with appropriate instructions;

Immediate response to the scene;

On scene incident command (OIC);

Notifications to internal and external resources;

Arrest of the offender;

Security of the scene;

Location and security of any shelter sites used

Initiation of "Lockdown" Procedure

If the risk assessment determines the need to secure a building or buildings to protect the campus community and to prevent an escalation of the emergency, the Chief of the MACU PD or designee will give the order to "Lockdown" specific areas or the entire campus.

Notice that a "Lockdown" has been issued will be broadcast over the ALERT system and by other appropriate means, by the MACU PD, with assistance from the Information Technology division.

"Lockdown" Procedure

If preceding an order to "Lockdown" you hear gunshots in or around your building or once the notice to "Lockdown" have been issued by the MACU PD take the following action:

Follow instructions;

Try to remain calm;

Remain indoors, e.g. your office or classroom.

If not in your typical surroundings proceed to a room that can be locked or more easily secured, if safety permits;

Close, and lock all doors, barricade if safety and time permits;

Turn off all lights;

Occupants should be seated below window level, toward the middle of a room away from windows and doors;

Remain silent;

Turn off all radios or other devices that emit sound;

Silence cell phones;

If gunshots are heard, lay on the floor using heavy objects, e.g. tables, filing cabinets for shelter;

Go to the nearest classroom, lecture hall or auditorium that can be locked;

If outdoors seek nearby shelter, e.g. large trees, walls, mail boxes, and wait for additional instructions from the MACU PD.

A message will be broadcast giving specific locations and directions for entering certain shelter sites; Do not unlock doors or attempt to leave until instructed to do so by MACU PD. The “All-clear” will be announced over the ALERT or other appropriate system when it is considered safe.

Should a lockdown be declared, persons out of doors should seek immediate cover and concealment by using trees, mailboxes, walls, vehicles, fire hydrants or trash cans while waiting for instructions via public address or Alert. The Chief of Police or designee will determine, from available intelligence, the most appropriate alternative shelters, and have police officers assigned to secure those locations. Once the Chief of Police is assured the shelter(s) has/ have been staffed, he/she will authorize the appropriate instructions, on location and safe corridors to approach each shelter, be broadcast over public address and Alert;

Should circumstances prevent the "Lockdown" of a particular building, the Chief of Police must take appropriate steps to secure the building, e.g. securing the building perimeter with MACU PD personnel. The Chief of Police will order police officer(s) to secure each shelter selected for use. Officers will notify the Chief of Police immediately when the shelter has been secured. When safe to move, the Chief of Police will have instructions broadcast over ALERT and the public address system on police vehicles giving the location of the site and safe corridors for travel.

Police officers posted at the shelter will screen all individuals as they enter by having them:

Stop at the entrance to the shelter; Identify themselves;

Leave all parcels, briefcases, backpacks and gym bags outside at a minimum distance of 20-30 feet from the structure;

The person seeking shelter will then open all outer garments for a visual inspection before being allowed to enter the shelter.

In case of medical or other emergency a MACU PD entry team supervisor must be in direct contact with a University staff or faculty member from the affected building, prior to entering any building after the "Lockdown" has been declared. The team supervisor and the faculty/staff member will establish:

Annually, members of the MACU PD and Faculty/Staff members shall participate in training on the University’s "Lockdown" procedure. Faculty/Staff members will be required to review their specific building plans.

Building staff are to receive a copy of the University’s Lockdown procedure and the plan for their specific building. The distribution of these plans is to coincide with the annual training. Distribution of the plans is the responsibility of the MACU PD.

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

MACU's Emergency Alert System (EAS) is used to communicate vital information to students and employees as quickly as possible before, during and after a campus emergency. The EAS consists of an audible announcement broadcast into the main building, student center and dorm courtyards.

Also, should an incident occur, a message with important information, will be published in banner form on the University website.